"Odisha celebrates 'Rasagola Dibasa' which coincides with the end of Rath Yatra."
Jayadev Lenka
The day is celebrated as 'Rasagola Dibasa' because, as per tradition, Lord Jagannath offers 'Rasagola' to His consort Maa Laxmi on this day to pacify her anger.
Bhubaneswar: Coinciding with Lord Jagannath's "Niladri Bije" (temple entry rituals) following the annual Rath Yatra, Odisha observed "Rasagola Dibasa" on Friday to underscore the significance of the sweet dish for its people.
The day is observed as 'Rasagola Dibasa' because, according to tradition, Lord Jagannath offers 'Rasagola' to His consort Maa Laxmi on this day to appease her anger.
According to mythology, Goddess Laxmi was angry with the Lord for not taking her in the Rath Yatra, said Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher in Shree Jagannath Culture.
Since July 30, 2015, the people of Odisha have celebrated the 'Niladri Bije' ritual as 'Rasagola Dibasa'. On this occasion, the Trinity is offered 'Rasagola' as 'bhog' before being taken into the sanctum sanctorum in the ceremonial ‘Pahandi’ procession.
According to local legend, Goddess Lakshmi locks Jai Vijay Dwar, one of the temple gates, and prevents the Lord’s entry into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Historically, references to "Rasagola" can be traced back to the late 15th century in the Odia Ramayana written by Balaram Das, also known as the Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana.
Over the years, "Rasagola Dibasa" has evolved into a widely celebrated event from villages to cities. People exchange the sweet dish to mark the occasion, and sweet shops also participate by preparing "Rasagola" in different flavors. Sometimes they even host competitions to showcase their culinary skills.
